Insurance

Merger critics target execs

August 26, 2005  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, an activist with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, brought a pair of pigs to illustrate what he called a "pork-out" by top PacifiCare executives, who stand to earn $ 230 million in cash and stock if the merger is completed before Feb. 1.</p>

Plan would drop California earthquake premiums 22 percent

August 26, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Groups representing policyholders, including the San Francisco-based United Policyholders and Santa Monica-based The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, support the larger decrease, arguing it would provide relief to homeowners as well as encourage more of them to buy earthquake insurance.</p>

Quake insurance could get cheaper;

August 25, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger on panel looking at rate reduction</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>A consumer group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, endorsed the reduction Wednesday. Its executive director, Douglas Heller, said the proposed reduction would be a boon to government as well. "Only as rates come down and homeowners purchase earthquake insurance will the public treasury see its risk in the wake of earthquakes diminish. In other words, in order to save taxpayers from being the de facto earthquake insurer in California, rates must come down."</p>

California board considers reduction in earthquake insurance rates

August 25, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>"One of the key reasons people have not bought or have dropped coverage is the rates are so high," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "There is no financial justification for the current rates. They must come down," Heller said. The rate cut will expand coverage in California and ease the financial risk to the state if a major earthquake hits, he said.</p>

Quake insurance rates may drop

August 25, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>Consumer groups said a decrease would lead more homeowners to buy the insurance, which would help taxpayers as well as those individuals. Earthquakes pose a constant and potentially devastating threat to California homes, yet only about 15 percent of homeowners have earthquake insurance because of its prohibitively high cost.</p>

FTCR Letter Urging DMHC to Oppose PacifiCare/UnitedHealth Merger

August 19, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Blame it on your ‘consumer champ’;

August 19, 2005  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Garamendi never enforced an initiative ending ZIP Codes as a criteria in setting auto insurance rates. Maybe ambition got in the way.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>There was a time in California when consumers put an initiative on the statewide ballot demanding an end to auto insurance rates determined in large part by ZIP Code. The year was 1988, and the initiative passed. So why are drivers on one side of a ZIP Code line still paying premiums hundreds of dollars higher than if they lived across the street? Ask Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.</p>

Stronger Rules Sought on Association Health Plans;

August 17, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The cut-rate medical policies often offer only marginal benefits, a consumer group says in a petition to the state insurance chief.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"There is no more junk policy than the association health plans," said Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which petitioned Garamendi's office.</p>

OIL: MULTINATIONALS POCKET MORE AS PRICES SHOOT HIGHER

August 15, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">IPS-Inter Press Service</p> <p>On Monday, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR), a Santa Monica-based consumer group, said that profiteering by the oil industry is to blame for a 20-cent increase at the pump over the last three weeks.</p>

Embattled home lender gives heavily to politicians;

August 12, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Ameriquest, a big donor to both parties, accused of duping low-income borrowers</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"This is a classic case of trying to buy political cover from both sides of the aisle," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "Who's left to prosecute? The company and the CEO have basically conflicted every public official out."</p>

Pig People from Outer Space

August 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">www.ifwisheswerefishes.com</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) cited data released today showing that HMO profits increased 10.7 percent in 2004 after an 80 percent increase in 2003, a trend that will likely continue as HMO mergers reduce market competition and patient choice.</p>

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

August 10, 2005  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold may not be getting what he wants because the Court of Appeal decided to keep his key initiative off the ballot yesterday. But, as an ArnoldWatch tipster points out, Arnold will get what...</font>